They returned to the courtyard, the door to the inner room closing softly behind them.
Aldric leaned back against the well, folding his arms loosely across his chest. He studied her for a moment.
Then—
"Why were you naming every step?"
She looked at him. "What?"
"'Locating imprint.' 'Severing reinforcement.' 'Dissolving sensory imprint.'"
He mimicked her tone lightly.
"Was that part of the magic? Or were you narrating for dramatic effect?"
Her expression flattened.
"It aids precision."
He tilted his head. "So it's required?"
"No."
"Ah."
He nodded slowly. "So you were just doing it."
She exhaled softly. "It helps structure cognitive sequencing."
"In normal language."
"It keeps my focus aligned."
Aldric smirked. "So. Self-commentary."
"If you prefer to call it that."
He shook his head. "Seemed kinda childish."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"It is a discipline technique."
"Sure."
He studied her a second longer before adding casually—
"What were your parents thinking, anyway?"
Lyriana's gaze shifted immediately.
Aldric continued, tone light but edged.
"To let their kid join a cult."
Silence.
The black-haired girl did not answer at once. Her posture remained steady.
But something behind her eyes changed.
"I was not 'let,'" she said evenly.
Aldric raised a brow. "Oh?"
"I chose."
"At nine?" he asked dryly.
She met his stare without flinching. "Yes."
He held her gaze.
Then gave a short laugh. "That explains a lot."
Lyriana's voice cut in from across the courtyard.
"Enough."
Aldric glanced at her. "What? I'm curious."
"You are prying."
He shrugged. "She erased a man's memory without blinking. I think I get to ask questions."
The girl spoke calmly.
"My family believed in structured advancement."
"That's one way to put it."
"They believed potential should not be wasted."
"And turning you into a ritual specialist at nine was their bright idea?"
"They provided access," she replied. "I pursued it."
Aldric studied her more carefully now.
"You don't sound resentful."
"I am not."
Lyriana stepped in before the edge sharpened further.
"She is useful," Lyriana said plainly. "That is what matters."
Aldric glanced between them.
"Yeah."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"Still weird."
He pointed at her again.
"And the step-naming thing? Still weird."
She answered without emotion.
"You talk constantly during combat."
"That's different."
"How?"
He opened his mouth.
Paused.
"…It just is."
She watched him for a long second.
"Your verbalization stabilizes your aggression."
He blinked. "You're analyzing me now?"
"Yes."
Aldric stared at her.
Then let out a short breath through his nose.
"…Nineteen."
"Yes."
"Still weird."
She did not respond.
Draven's voice cut across the courtyard, calm and final.
"Can't shut up."
That ended it.
Aldric muttered as he walked toward the shaded wall—
"One memory-wiping ritual prodigy and a ghoul landlord."
He glanced up at the high sun.
"…This day just keeps getting better."
---
Draven stepped back into the house, the courtyard noise fading behind him.
The interior was cool. Quiet.
He had taken only a few steps when a soft sound reached him—
A restless murmur.
He turned.
Vaelith stepped from a side room, holding both children in her arms.
Lucifer was awake, crimson eyes blinking slowly—far too alert for an infant. Elenya clutched faintly at Vaelith's sleeve, gaze unfocused but aware.
Vaelith inclined her head.
"My lord."
Draven's eyes moved over the children, assessing.
"They are well?"
"Yes."
She adjusted her hold effortlessly.
Then her gaze shifted faintly toward the courtyard.
"I heard."
"The ghoul," Draven said.
"Yes."
Her tone remained calm.
"Wiping his memory was unnecessary."
Draven did not respond immediately.
Outside, Aldric's voice drifted faintly through the corridor.
Vaelith continued.
"I had already placed a restriction upon him."
Draven's eyes sharpened slightly.
"What restriction."
"If he speaks a single word of our presence," she said evenly, "his heart will stop."
Silence settled.
Lucifer shifted in her arms, red eyes fixed on Draven without blinking.
Elenya made a soft sound, then quieted.
Draven stepped closer.
"When."
"When he opened the door for me."
Her expression did not change.
"He did not notice. It was a minor inscription layered beneath his surface mana."
She met his gaze directly.
"He cannot betray us. Even unintentionally."
A brief pause.
"If he attempts to disclose our presence with intent—he dies."
Draven studied her.
"And if he speaks unknowingly?"
"The restriction is keyed to intent and disclosure. Casual thought will not trigger it."
Footsteps approached.
Aldric appeared in the doorway, stopping at the sight of the children.
"…They're awake."
"Yes," Vaelith replied.
His gaze shifted between her and Draven.
"What'd I miss?"
"The ghoul was already secured," she said calmly.
Aldric blinked. "Secured how?"
"If he speaks of us, he dies."
He stared.
"…Oh."
He glanced back toward the courtyard.
"Would've been nice to know before we did the whole ritual demonstration."
The black-haired girl stepped into view behind him, having overheard.
Her expression tightened slightly.
"You placed a death-binding without informing us?"
"It was sufficient," Vaelith replied.
Lyriana entered last, eyes moving between them.
Draven spoke.
"It changes nothing."
Calm. Final.
Vaelith inclined her head.
"As you say, my lord."
Lucifer's red eyes remained fixed on him.
The house grew quiet.
Outside, the town of Raventhorn carried on its ordinary day.
Inside—
They were guarded not only by erased memory—
But by a silent death sentence hanging over a creature who would never know it existed.
---
Vaelith adjusted the children slightly in her arms.
"My lord," she said, tone returning to calm efficiency, "I have prepared a bath."
Draven's gaze shifted to her.
"The water is heated. Fresh garments have been laid out."
Aldric blinked.
"…You had time for that?"
Vaelith did not look at him.
"I also cleaned the young master and young miss," she added, glancing briefly at Lucifer and Elenya. "They were restless upon waking."
Lucifer's crimson eyes remained fixed on Draven.
Elenya yawned softly, fingers curling into Vaelith's sleeve.
Vaelith stepped aside, indicating the left corridor.
"The second room at the end of the hall. It is secure."
Draven stood still a moment.
The faint scent of blood still clung to him.
"You should rest briefly," she added quietly. "If only to recover surface fatigue."
"Surface fatigue," Aldric muttered. "That's one way to put it."
Lyriana shot him a look.
Vaelith remained unfazed.
"I will remain with the children."
Her eyes lowered slightly in respect.
"If you require anything, call."
Draven stepped closer.
Lucifer reached out a small hand toward him.
Draven's expression softened—barely.
He touched the child's forehead lightly.
Then brushed a finger through Elenya's hair.
"They caused no trouble?"
"None," Vaelith replied.
Aldric leaned against the wall.
"Of course they didn't. Probably the calmest ones here."
No one responded.
Draven gave a small nod.
"Very well."
He turned toward the corridor.
As he passed Aldric, the latter muttered—
"Try not to take too long. Some of us are still waiting for the next disaster."
Draven did not slow.
Vaelith's voice followed calmly behind him.
"The towels are on the wooden rack. The garments beside the basin."
The corridor swallowed him.
The house quieted once more.
Vaelith shifted the children in her arms, composed as ever.
Outside, the sun stood high above Raventhorn.
Inside—
For the first time since crossing the border—
There was stillness.